Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
Hib
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) is a disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. The germs spread person-to-person. If the bacteria remains in a child’s nose or throat, the probability of the child contracting the disease is low. However, if it enters the child’s lungs or bloodstream serious problems may occur.
Hib is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under the age of 5 in the US. It can also cause:
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Pneumonia
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Severe swelling in the throat
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Inflections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart
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Death
Who should get vaccinated?
Children should receive 4 doses of the Hib vaccine at the following ages:
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2 months
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4 months
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6 months
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12-15 month
Most children and adults above the age of 5 do not need Hib vaccine; however, those who have the following conditions should consult their doctor:
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Sickle cell disease
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HIV/AIDS
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Removed spleen
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Bone marrow transplant
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Cancer treatment with drugs
Children who should not receive the Hib vaccine include:
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People who have had life-threatening allergic reactions to the previous dose of Hib vaccine
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Children less than 6 weeks of age
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People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should wait to recover
For more information on Hib vaccination call your local or state health department’s immunization program or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by calling 1-800-232-4636 or by visiting www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
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